West Liberty University will recognize distinguished graduates during Homecoming weekend with a Wall of Honor ceremony. Portraits of the outstanding alumni selected this year will join others posted on the in the Alumni Wall of Honor Room of the College Union. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8.
This year’s honorees are dentist Dan Joseph, insurance executive Lary Loew, educator Toni Jo Mason, dental hygienist and entrepreneur Pam Quinones and opera singer Sara Wiedt.
WLU Alumni Association Director Ron Witt said, “The West Liberty University Alumni Association Board of Directors instituted this project in 1990 to demonstrate to current students, visitors, and friends that the university has some very successful graduates. This project, the Alumni Wall of Honor, is a dramatic way to honor some of the university’s most distinguished alumni and display pride in the accomplishments of its graduates. It is the highest honor that may be bestowed upon a WLU graduate by the Alumni Association.
“The individuals nominated this year are truly remarkable in so many ways and have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions. They are outstanding representatives of this beloved institution and held in the highest regard,” he added.
Dr. Dan Joseph established his orthodontic practice in Wheeling in 1980. He has served as president of the Wheeling District Dental Society and the West Virginia Orthodontic Association and as president and treasurer of the West Virginia Dental Association. Joseph has served on the West Liberty University Board of Governors, the Science Advisory Board and the Board of the West Liberty Regional Science and Engineering Fair. He and his wife, Debbie, are founders of the annual Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta.
Lary Loew earned a B.S. degree in economics at West Liberty and embarked on a long career in the insurance industry. The Wheeling native was an award-winning sales professional for The Equitable Life Assurance Society (now AXA Financial), inducted into the AXA Equitable Hall of Fame. Loew also formed his own company, The Cornerstone Group, the only full service employee benefits agency in West Virginia. He is an acknowledged expert on health care reform, an accomplished golfer and member of the West Liberty University Foundation board of directors.
Toni Jo Mason earned a degree in social studies and English, with a minor in speech. After teaching in elementary and secondary schools in West Virginia and Ohio, she began a career in Florida schools as an Americans with Disabilities Act director, where she was responsible for conducting a comprehensive survey to determine the schools’ ADA status and then developing and implementing a master plan in order to achieve compliance.
Quinones, a Wellsburg native, is president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and founder of Hygiene Associates, Inc. The company is a dental employee referral service, continuing education and consulting company in the Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area. Her dedication to the profession of dental hygiene and to the excellence of patient care has earned her a number of awards including the ADHA Distinguished Service Award, the MDHA Symbol of Excellence Award, and recognition by the Who’s Who of Women Executives. She and her husband, Manny, reside in Derwood, Md.
Sara Wiedt came to West Liberty State College from the Pittsburgh area to earn her degree in vocal performance. While in college, she performed as an actor and singer in a number of theatrical productions, both on- and off-campus. While still a college student, she began her professional career with an open call to Pittsburgh’s Civic Light Opera, where she performed for four summer seasons. Her New York credits began off-Broadway at the York Theatre company, but her biggest break was an open call for the Metropolitan Opera chorus, of which she has been a member for 20 years.
Other Homecoming 2011 events on Saturday include a parade on campus at 9:30 a.m. Tailgating at Russek Field in anticipation of the Hilltopper football game against W.Va. State University begins at 10 a.m., followed at 11 a.m. by the opening of the “alumni and friends” tent. Witt said visitors can become part of the “Topper2Topper” network, purchase food and merchandise, register for reunions and find out what else is happening at WLU.
Also at 11 a.m., the KidZone – a place for children to enjoy organized activities before and during football games – will open. It will offer face painting, arts and crafts, a bounce house and giveaways.
The football teams kick off at 1 p.m.
The Homecoming dance will take place at 10 p.m. at Wesbanco Arena in Wheeling.